PANTHER LINEUP
PANTHER STATE LINEUP
106—Natalie Garza 10-3
106—Ali Pierce 4-8
113—Jazmin Castellanos 4-8
120—Natasha Reyes 2-8
132—Bre Ridgeway 11-1
132—Marissa Hanrahan 3-7
145—Destiny Lewis 1-5
170—Kyeal Mogbo 8-3
182—Brook Jones 3-8
By JIM MISUNAS
MCPHERSON – Next year, the KSHSAA may sponsor its first-ever state-sponsored girls state wrestling championship.
Nine Great Bend Panthers will compete in the 3rd Kansas High School Girls Wrestling Championships starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at McPherson High School.
“These tournaments allow our girls to compete at a better advantage,” said Great Bend wrestling coach Nathan Broeckelman.
Fourth-place finisher Natalie Garza (10-3, 106) earned a 2-3 record last year. Ali Pierce (4-8, 106) and Marissa Hanrahan (3-7, 132) also competed at the 2018 state meet.
Bre Ridgeway (11-1, 132) and Kyeal Mogbo (8-3, 170) own the best records among nine Panther entries.
“All the girls have a chance at first place, but they will have to be on top of their game to win first place,” said Broeckelman. "Natalie has good experience. Bre has one loss. We're looking for big things from her. Kyeal Mogbo has been wrestling well."
The girls are improving every day.
“Our girls are more physical this year,” Broeckelman said. “They’ve shown improvements wrestling in closer matches with opponents who have beaten them. They’ve won matches over girls who beat them.”
Broeckelman said the girls are constantly learning.
“Overall the girls have competed well,” he said. “They have a few injuries here-and-there, but they are buying into practicing through some injuries. It will get better as girls wrestling expands.”
Entries have grown from 37 to 80 schools with an estimated 240 girls expected to compete. Fredonia's returning state champion Mason Claiborne (152) is ranked 14th nationally and Junction City's returning state champion Elisa Robinson (182) is ranked second. McPherson's Mya Kretzer and Nickerson's Nichole Moore have also been nationally ranked.
Pfizer is sponsoring the tournament. The McPherson CVB has provided a sports tournament grant.
The KSHSAA Board of Directors will vote in April on a proposal to sanction a HS girls wrestling championship.
“McPherson coach Doug Kretzer and others across the state have been strong supporters of the proposal,” said Shane Backhus, McPherson activities director. “It has a very good chance of passing and becoming a reality for the 2019-2020 school year.”
